A Guide on How Tight Shoes Lead to Significant Health Problems:
Why anybody wears a pair of tight shoes when it can be so incredibly uncomfortable is beyond comprehending. But still, a fashionable, ultra-chic, and less comfortable pair flat of heels gets the best of us. Experiencing some health issues is quite common in people who wear tight and uncomfortable shoes for extended hours.
Long hours of wearing tight shoes often create the need to pay a visit to the podiatrist. According to Dr. Joseph Dupper, a podiatry expert, there can be significant consequences for repeatedly wearing shoes that cause them pain. It may not be evident in the beginning, but over time it can permanently damage your feet. You will start to witness signs of pain, which slowly and gradually become more threatening.
Common Signs That You Are Wearing Ill-Fitted Shoes
It is incredible to see how so many women compromise on their well-being by trading off precious health against mere fashion. Wearing pencil heels and pointed-toe shoes can be extremely dangerous and harmful for the feet in the long run.
Wearing high heels repeatedly for long and extended periods can result in the shortening of your Achilles heel. If your Achilles tendon is affected, it can cause significant tendonitis. This problem is prevalent and occurs since you keep putting all the weight at the front.
The cushioned pads below the metatarsal tops at the sphere of your feet will get worn out over time due to excessive pressure. One of the most important things that are worth noticing in people who wear tight-fitting shoes is ingrown nails. Their nails often tend to be pressed and squeezed against tight-fitted shoes, resulting in ingrown nails.
A few other foot problems include having crossed toes, hammertoes, bunions, and corns. These are some of the issues which, if gotten severe, can lead to significant foot surgeries. Furthermore, people with medical histories like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, etc., are naturally prone to foot problems and injuries.
Important Feet Facts to Consider
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Approximately 75% to 80% of adults endure one or another kind of foot problem.
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Almost 44 million official working days are missed annually because of back pain.
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9 out of 10 women go for shoes that are smaller than their regular size, which is why women are four times more likely prone to foot issues than men.
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A 2-2.5-inch heel increases the load by 75% on your front foot.
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Sprinting or running can apply four times higher weight pressure on your foot.
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A person takes 10,000 steps daily, on average.
Eight Foot Problems That Can Occur Because of Tight Shoes
It is safe to assume that one might wear ill-fitting shoes merely because it is ultra-chic and makes them look stylish. But, no amount of fashionable pair of shoes should be traded at the expense of your comfort. Human feet have intricate anatomy, and tight shoes can cause much more damage than just causing discomfort in a public gathering.
While picking a new pair of shoes, it is essential to give first priority to comfort and avoid opting for shoes that are likely to result in unwanted side effects. Here are some of the problems that all the people who wear tight shoes are exposed to.
1. Foot Pain
Wrong sized shoes are directly linked with discomfort and foot pain, particularly in the front areas. Shoes that have a reduced box volume can be quite problematic. These kinds of shoes restrict the toes and prevent them from having enough room to move their feet and spread their toes freely. This causes extreme discomfort and pain in the ball of the foot.
2. Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown nails are another common problem that arises as the corner of the toenail starts to grow into the skin. This usually happens in the big toe and results in discomfort, swelling and can be infectious too. Footwear that restricts the toes' movement leads to this problem as the nail cannot find any room to naturally grow outwards.
3. Toe Deformities
If your feet keep getting cramped by always wearing tight shoes, your toes are bound to get deformed. The toe naturally adjusts and starts reacting to this confined space. Some commonly occurring toe deformities include:
· Corns: A sort of callus which forms over or in between the toes
· Bunions: A bloated tissue or bone that forms around the bottom of the big toe.
· Hammertoes: When the toes begin to curl within the shoe, and your toe rises when instead it should be flat. Hammertoes can be very painful and cause your muscles to weaken.
4. Metatarsalgia
This is another common condition that includes muscle inflammation and discomfort in the ball of the foot. The pain can be incredibly sharp and cause burning. Wrongly fitting or old, tatty shoes can be one of the leading causes of Metatarsalgia.
5. Foot Ulcers for Diabetics
Tight-fitting shoe wear is the underlying cause of foot ulcers for diabetic patients. Foot ulcers are open wounds that are formed when your shoes continuously rub against your feet. As per the American Podiatric Medical Association, almost 85% of diabetes concerning amputations are led by foot ulcers. These ulcers can be prevented if you wear the right size and the right kind of shoes.
6. Sored Areas
If you experience soreness of the feet, legs, lower back, or hips, it can be due to ill-fitting shoes. The body alignment is greatly affected when you accustom your posture and gait with tight shoes. A lousy body posture results in extreme pain and soreness, which can gradually spread in the other parts of your body.
7. Heel Spurs
Wearing a wrong size applies undue pressure at the bone, heel, and ligament of the foot. Walking over hard surfaces and daily jogging or running is also one cause of heel spurs. A condition like this might appear painless at first, but if continued, it can cause plantar fasciitis. This causes you to feel excruciating pain in the plantar fascia area, which is where the bone of your heel connects with the ball of your feet.
8. Backache
A kind shoe which is not shock-absorbent or does not contain an appropriate arch and cushion for support can end up suffering a severe backache. Most of us do not realize how important this factor is until we become a victim of backache, which can eventually lead to acute pain. Over a more extended period, this can affect our posture, too, which is usually irreversible.
Ways to Cure Sore Feet after Wearing Tight-Fitted Footwears
If your feet feel numb by the time the party is over, here are some useful home tricks that can restore your feet and cure the soaring pain. But wearing such tight shoes should be avoided as it might make you have to visit the doctor.
Use Ice
If your feet are too swollen or hurting after several hours of wearing fitted kicks, it is best to treat it with cold compresses. This soothes the pain and reduces swelling. This can feel uncomfortable in the beginning, but eventually, you can feel the difference.
Wrap an ice bag or pack of frozen peas in a thin towel or a shirt and put it on the top and below your feet. This fresh layer will protect and keep the cold compress from aching your skin as well as prevent the cold feeling from numbing your feet. Keep the cold compress for no longer than 20 minutes.
Cold/Hot Soak
Tight shoes constrict the flow of blood of your feet, and this cure can be used to get the blow flow in circulation again. Fill cold water in one bucket or a bowl and hot water in another. Dip your aching foot/feet in the cold water first for 5 minutes, before switching to the bucket of hot water. Switch again after 5 minutes. This back and forth switching between extreme temperatures restores the blood flow circulation.
Therapeutic Stretches
Just like you stretch after exercising, you can follow some therapeutic stretches after taking off your shoe to minimize soreness. For instance, sit in a cross-legged position for the cross-legged ankle to prop up on the other knee. Meander your fingers amidst the toes, and fan and stretch them.
Another exercise includes lying on the back with your feet resting flat on the surface and knees pointing upwards. Lift your toes and heels to the extent that the ball of your foot remains on the ground. Keep lifting it, roll your feet on the ball till the tip touches the floor, and the head of the foot rises. Do this ten times to soothe and regain the strength of your feet.
Seek Professional Help
Tight shoes create severe and permanent health issues for your feet, and sore feet are typically the first visible symptom. Hammertoes and bunions are common, but sometimes can be so severe that they call for surgical corrections. These remedies can work for the short-term but cannot be relied on. In case of critical sore feet, visit a podiatrist who can identify if it is an early sign of a medical issue.
Reasons Why Your Feet Size Change Over Time
Over the passage of years, our bodies absorb at least 2 or times more weight because of the pull of gravity. Your feet are the primary recipient of all the abrasion. It is essential to realize that your shoe size might not always be the same throughout your life. Your feet tend to get flatter, wider, or longer over time. This typically happens when our tendons and ligaments become looser.
As your feet widens and lengthens with age, a previous sized shoe can lead to toe and foot deformities like hammertoes, corns and calluses, and bunions. Your weight does not stay the same either as you age with time. An expanding body often results in the flattening of your feet too. Weight gain often changes the dynamics of walking and results in additional pressure on your ankle and feet.
The fatty pads that act as a cushion at the foot's bottom also grow thinner with age. This way, your feet absorb lesser shock and make it more painful for you to walk in thin-soled shoes over hard and flat surfaces. Lastly, if you have arthritis or diabetes, your feet certainly require immediate medical attention and treatment. Still, you can escape severe foot problems if you are healthy and well.
Therefore, these issues make it necessary to get your feet measured with time to ensure that you wear a pair of tight-fitting shoes. If you face signs of discomfort or soreness while wearing your favorite shoes, it is time to buy new footwear. If the pain exists, visit your nearest podiatrist.
The Need To Choose the Right Pair of Shoes
Many of these significant problems can be minimized if you simply pick a show of the right size. It is necessary to select a show that will be of utmost comfort and does no harm in the long run. The right sized shoe will not only fit comfortably but also ensure support and provide plenty of space to move your toes.
For women, this typically means to opt for low-rise heels with less pointed toes. High heels are notoriously known in creating a wide array of foot problems. It is best to stop wearing high heels for long durations to prevent permanent damage. Reluctantly, go for shoes with a solid build that will adjust to your feet accordingly.
Shoes that have cushioned soles are more shock absorbent to hard surfaces. It is also vital to look for a conversant salesman who can re-measure your feet as they do tend to change from time to time. Better fitting and spacious shoes will automatically decrease the chance of causing major foot problems and other health issues.
In conclusion., it is essential to go to the doctor for an annual checkup of your feet. An expert doctor will spot medical problems like diabetes by examining your feet. This way, he or she can treat foot problems like calluses, corns, ingrown toenails, and cracked skin before they get more serious.
